Venue: Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda
Dates: August 5-14, 2024
From August 5-14, 2024, agricultural experts and stakeholders from across Africa convened at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda, for a critical workshop aimed at drafting the CAADP Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035). Among the participants, AU-IBAR, represented by Dr. Hiver Bousinnie, Animal Health Unit Coordinator, joined other leading experts in shaping the future of Africa's agricultural development.
This workshop was an important milestone or the ongoing Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which has been at the forefront of agricultural transformation across the continent since 2003. The primary focus of the workshop was to develop a strategic framework that would guide the continent's agricultural policies and practices for the next decade, addressing emerging challenges and aligning with broader continental goals, such as Agenda 2063.
Drafting the CAADP Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan
The Kampala workshop marked the beginning of the drafting process for the CAADP Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035). The drafting team, comprising 20-25 experts from across Africa, including AU-IBAR’s Dr. Hiver Boussini, was tasked with creating a comprehensive strategy that addresses both current and future challenges in Africa's agricultural sector.
The workshop focused on reviewing reports from 13 technical working groups, five regional consultations, and independent memoranda to identify priority areas for a strategy and action plan. The team developed a forward-looking strategy focusing on investment stimulation, partnership building, smallholder empowerment, and climate change impacts. The workshop produced a comprehensive report, draft 50-page CAADP Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan, PowerPoint slides, and an electronic file.
Next Steps
The draft CAADP Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan will be presented to the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Environment (ARDWE) for consideration. Following validation and a smaller team to drfat the Kampala Declaration, the finalized strategy will be submitted to the AU Heads of State and Government at the Extraordinary Summit in January 2025 for adoption.
This strategy and action plan will be instrumental in guiding Africa's agricultural development over the next decade, ensuring that the continent remains resilient and responsive to the evolving challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Background
CAADP, launched in 2003, aims to enhance food security, nutrition, rural development, and economic growth across Africa. The program's initial decade saw significant progress, with 45 AU member states signing CAADP Compacts and initiating National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs). However, challenges such as policy constraints, resource limitations, and lack of cross-sectoral cooperation persisted, prompting a renewed commitment through the 2014 Malabo Declaration.
The Malabo Declaration set ambitious targets for 2025, including eradicating hunger and reducing malnutrition. However, recent global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have highlighted the need for a renewed agenda beyond 2025 to address these challenges.
Recognizing that the continent is not on track to meet the 2025 goals, AU Heads of State called for the development of a post-Malabo CAADP agenda, leading to the Extraordinary Summit in 2025 in Kampala, Uganda.
